We’re exploring themes from the current Getty Villa exhibition “Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins,” and today’s theme is lawmaking! One of the responsibilities of the king was to bring order to society through the creation of laws. The earliest invocation of the concept of social justice by a king dates to the third millennium BC. This large clay cone bears a cuneiform inscription that wraps around its body and gives an account of the legal reforms instituted by king Urukagina of the city-state of Lagash. Urukagina ruled around 2350 B.C., and in this inscription he claims to have restored order and justice after a period of corruption under his predecessor. Urukagina had usurped the throne of Lagash, and framing the previous king as a crooked ruler helped justify his own claim to the throne. Urukagina says he restored social order against the “abuses of the old days,” helped the oppressed, reduced taxes, punished thieves, and canceled debts. Independence for Lagash was short-lived, ...